Machining station for vehicle body parts and processes

Abstract

Machining station (10), in particular framing station, for workpieces designed as vehicle body parts, comprising a plurality of clamping frames (301, 302) for clamping the workpieces, at least one magazine area (22) for holding the tension frames (301, 302), a work area (24) for machining the workpieces and at least one conveying device (50) for transporting the clamping frames between the magazine area (22) and the working area (24), wherein the at least one conveying device (50) has a positioning device (60) for storing at least one clamping frame (301, 302) and the positioning device (60) can be moved into a position in which the respective clamping frame (301, 302) is held firmly in place and into a position in which the clamping frame (301, 302) is suspended, and the working area (24) has a linear guide (80) for precisely positioning the clamping frames (301, 302) in the working area (24).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a processing station, in particular a framing station, for workpieces designed as vehicle body parts, comprising a plurality of clamping frames for clamping the workpieces, at least one magazine area for holding the clamping frames, a work area for processing the workpieces, and at least one conveyor for transporting the clamping frames between the magazine area and the work area, wherein the at least one conveyor has a positioning device for storing at least one clamping frame. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for transferring a clamping frame to a work area in a processing station.

[0002] Such processing and framing stations are known and serve to clamp workpieces in a predetermined, precise position and then permanently join them together through a joining process. These workpieces can be, for example, vehicle body parts. The joining process can involve welding, gluing, riveting, or crimping. For the process of precisely positioning one body component, such as a side panel, against another body component, such as a floor assembly, so-called clamping frames are used. One or more of these clamping frames are stored in a magazine area and moved to and from the work area by means of a transport device. The actual work area is commonly referred to as a geobox. Through this work area, or...The vehicle body to be assembled is usually guided along a continuous conveyor belt in the geobox, so that the respective workpiece is added to the partially completed vehicle body in the work area or geobox.

[0003] A clamping frame is typically designed as an upright, largely flat support frame to which several operable clamps are attached. These clamps are used to clamp the body panels against each other at predetermined points for assembly. A clamping frame itself is not designed to carry or transport a body panel, but merely to move a body component—which was pre-positioned to a second body component in a previous assembly step by lashing or clipping—into its final, structurally predetermined position.

[0004] AT 517 515 A2 describes an assembly system as a processing station comprising multiple clamping frames for mounting workpieces designed as vehicle body components. The assembly system includes a clamping frame magazine for storing the clamping frames, an assembly station for joining the workpieces, a gantry structure with a gantry manipulator, and a clamping frame transport unit. The gantry manipulator moves a clamping frame between the clamping frame magazine and the clamping frame transport unit. The clamping frame transport unit includes a first guide for moving a clamping frame unit containing the clamping frame in the transverse direction, and the assembly station includes a second guide for moving the clamping frame unit in the transverse direction. The assembly system is designed to enable easy handling of the clamping frames with good positioning accuracy.

[0005] Furthermore, EP 1 858 750 B1 discloses a changing device for clamping frames in a machining station for vehicle bodies. The machining station comprises a frame magazine and a transport device, the transport device being used to move a clamping frame between the frame magazine and a work area.

[0006] From EP 2 137 053 B1, a processing station with omnidirectionally movable conveying devices is known, wherein positioning and fixing means are provided on the conveying device that can hold a loaded clamping frame and release it for a transfer operation. The conveying device can have a feed device with a horizontal axis of movement, via which the loaded clamping frame can be advanced to a marking on the frame of the work area in order to be inserted into corresponding receptacles. It is further described that the feed device can have a soft-stop mechanism for its actuators in order to compensate for any small positional deviations during frame feed.

[0007] A perceived disadvantage is that, despite a soft-stop mechanism on the conveyor side, a relatively high degree of approach accuracy with regard to the working area must be achieved by the conveyor.

[0008] Based on this, the object of the present invention is to provide a processing station whose conveying device approaches the work area with a lower approach accuracy, but is nevertheless able to safely transfer a clamping frame to the work area.

[0009] The task is solved by a processing station, in particular a framing station, for workpieces designed as vehicle body parts, with a plurality of clamping frames for clamping the workpieces, at least one magazine area for holding the clamping frames, a work area for machining the workpieces and with at least one conveying device for transporting the clamping frames between the magazine area and the working area, wherein the at least one conveying device has a positioning device for storing at least one clamping frame and the positioning device can be moved into a position in which the respective clamping frame is held firmly in place and into a position in which the clamping frame is held floating, and the working area has a linear guide for positioning the clamping frames accurately in the working area.

[0010] The processing station according to the invention advantageously achieves that the conveying device(s) can move within the entire area of ​​the processing station with a comparatively low positioning accuracy, but in comparison a high positioning accuracy is provided within the working area via the linear guide.

[0011] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the linear guide has at least one opening guide element in an initial section for the position-tolerant transfer of the clamping frames from the conveyor. The initial section is understood to be the area furthest from the conveyor track for the vehicle body. Here, the guide element can narrow in a funnel shape along the linear guide, so that after passing through the guide element, the linear guides have the dimension or position to which the clamping frames are positioned in an end position within the working area. The guide elements of the linear guide advantageously support the inventive advantage that the conveyor can be moved within the processing station with relatively low positioning accuracy and can be positioned precisely within the working area via the linear guide.The entry guides thus functionally ensure the transition from low positional accuracy during the clamping frame transport within the processing station to high positional accuracy within the working area.

[0012] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the linear guide comprises at least two guide rails. Two guide rails enable the clamping frames to be supported with sufficient stability and static determinacy within the working area. The profile of a guide rail can be designed according to requirements. However, it is preferred that the two profile rails are each U-shaped and arranged such that the open sides of the U face each other.

[0013] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the locking device has at least one multi-position cylinder, via which the floating position, the fixed position, and an open position, in which the respective clamping frame is released relative to the conveying device, can be actuated. The multi-position cylinder can be pneumatically or hydraulically actuated. It is advantageously possible to control several positions or switching states via a single component using a multi-position cylinder.

[0014] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the clamping frames have a guide roller arrangement which, when the clamping frames are received in the working area, enters into a operative connection with the linear guide. The guide rollers ensure that movement of the clamping frames in or on the linear guide can be accomplished with the lowest possible energy expenditure.

[0015] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the conveying device is a non-track-bound, driverless transport vehicle. This has the advantage that, initially, no type of forced track guidance is required. Furthermore, the travel paths of the conveying device can be easily adjusted if the configuration of the processing station is changed. Another advantage is that a non-track-bound, driverless transport vehicle exhibits high maneuverability.

[0016] An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides for an optical guide track for navigating the at least one conveying device between the magazine area and the work area. An optical guide track offers high flexibility in its placement, for example, on the floor of the processing station. The optical guide track can either be slightly recessed into the floor or adhered to it. Another advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that a clamping frame comprises an intermediate frame and a tool frame mounted on the intermediate frame. It is preferred that the intermediate frame serves as a connecting element to the conveying device and can be designed accordingly. It is possible that the intermediate frames of all clamping frames are of a uniform design, and only the respective tool frame needs to be adapted to the workpiece to be held.In a specific design, it can be provided that the staking device is in operative connection with the intermediate frame in the floating position and the fixed position of a clamping frame.

[0017] The problem is further solved by a method for transferring a clamping frame to a work area in a machining station as described, in which a clamping frame is transported on the conveyor in the fixed position of the positioning device, and the positioning device is moved to the floating position to receive the clamping frame into the linear guide of the work area. The method according to the invention ensures that, despite relatively low positioning accuracy in the area of ​​the machining station, a clamping frame can be reliably and accurately positioned in the work area.

[0018] An advantageous embodiment of the method provides that the locking device is moved into the open position when the clamping frame reaches an end position of the linear guide. This ensures that the clamping frame is held in the floating position until the end position of the linear guide is reached.

[0019] An advantageous embodiment of the method involves sensing the end position via a proximity switch. This ensures that the reaching of the clamping frame's end position within the working area is detected and any rapid movement is stopped. Another advantageous embodiment of the method involves sensing a preliminary position via the proximity switch before the end position is reached. This allows, for example, the speed of the feed movement to be reduced upon reaching the preliminary position.

[0020] The invention is explained below with further features, details, and advantages with reference to the accompanying figures. The figures merely illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention. Herein, they show Fig. 1 a schematic top view of a processing station; Fig. 2 a detailed representation of the work area of ​​the processing station according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 Detailed representation of a linear guide within the working area according to Fig. 2; Fig. 4. Illustration of a conveying device; Fig. 5. Illustration of a conveyor device and a clamping frame; Fig. 6 further illustrations of the tension frame; Fig. 7 a representation of a multi-position cylinder; Fig. 8a to 8c further illustrations of the multi-position cylinder according to Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 A representation of a conveying device with a clamping frame in a position in front of the work area.

[0021] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of a processing station 10 according to an exemplary embodiment. The processing station 10 is arranged along the side of a conveyor 12. The conveyor 12 is symbolized here by a dashed arrow and serves for the continuous conveying of workpieces, for example, vehicle body parts. The workpieces are conveyed along the conveyor 12 by means of conveying means not shown. The processing station 10 serves to process the workpieces in a designated section of the conveyor 12.

[0022] The illustrated embodiment of the processing station 10 comprises a working area 24, a magazine area 22, and a transfer area 26 located between these two areas. The transfer area 26 does not necessarily need to have sharp boundaries but can encompass the available free space. Processing devices 28, for example in the form of welding robots, can be arranged in this free space. The processing devices 28 can also be movable within the free space relative to the working area 24 in a suitable manner. For example, a joining process can be carried out on the vehicle body parts in the working area 24 using welding robots. The processing devices 28 can be movable within the working area 24 in a suitable manner. The magazine area 22 serves as a buffer or storage area for workpieces, which are preferably held there on clamping frames 30.In principle, the described arrangement, consisting of magazine area 22, work area 24, transfer area 26, and processing devices 28, can be symmetrically configured with respect to the conveyor path 12, so that workpieces can be processed on both sides of the work area 24. This symmetrical arrangement will only be discussed further in the description when necessary for understanding.

[0023] Furthermore, the processing station 10 includes at least one conveyor 50, which is freely movable within the transfer area 26. The following are shown in the illustration of the Fig. Figure 1 shows two conveying devices 501, 502, each holding a clamping frame 301, 302. A conveying device 50 serves to transport the clamping frames between the magazine area 22 and the working area 24. A key aspect of the invention is that the movement of the conveying device 50 during clamping frame transport can be carried out with low positional accuracy. In contrast, during the transfer of a clamping frame 30 into the working area 24, the positional accuracy is increased, so that the respective clamping frame 30 can be positioned precisely and accurately in the working area into a final processing position.

[0024] The Fig. Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the working area 24, in which a frame arrangement 40 is provided, which is also arranged symmetrically with respect to the conveyor track 12. The frame arrangement 40 consists of four posts 36, which can be connected in pairs by means of crossbeams 38 across the conveyor track 12. Furthermore, according to the invention, a linear guide 80 is provided, which is arranged on one side of the conveyor track. In the symmetrical arrangement shown here, a linear guide is arranged on both sides of the conveyor track 12. The linear guide 80 is designed to take a clamping frame 30 from the conveyor 50 and transport it precisely into the intended processing position within the working area 24.

[0025] Preferably, a linear guide 80 comprises two guide rails 841 and 842. The guide rails 841 and 842 can be raised to a certain extent from the floor, as shown here. However, mounting the guide rails 841 and 842 close to the floor may also be advantageous.

[0026] The Fig. Figure 3 shows a detailed view of a guide rail 84 of a linear guide 80. A guide rail 84 comprises a substantially U-shaped profile section 86 and an entry guide 82 that is flush with the profile section 86. The entry guide 82 is located on the side of the profile section 86 facing away from the conveyor section 12. The entry guides 82 are preferably also U-shaped. The entry guides 82 are characterized by the fact that the three surfaces 881, 882, 883 arranged on the inside of the U are angled relative to the corresponding surfaces of the guide rail 84. This angled angle is such that the U formed by the guide rail 84 and the entry guide 82 opens with increasing distance from the conveyor section 12.Viewed from the opposite direction, i.e. from the perspective of a clamping frame 30 which is delivered to the working area 24 by a conveying device 50, the clamping frame 30 is enabled to easily enter the guide rails 84 via the angled positioning of the inner surfaces of the entry guide 82.

[0027] The Fig. 4 and Fig. Figure 5 shows a conveyor unit 50 in standalone view ( Fig. 4) and a conveying device 50 with a clamping frame 30 arranged thereon ( Fig. 5) The conveyor 50 has a drive arrangement (not shown) on its underside, which enables trackless movement on the open area. Preferably, a locking device 60 is arranged on the top of the conveyor 50, by means of which a clamping frame 30 can be detachably held on the conveyor 50. A clamping frame 30 can itself be composed of a vertically oriented tool frame 42 and a horizontally oriented intermediate frame 44, preferably detachably. The locking device 60 can comprise at least one multi-position cylinder 62, by means of which the clamping frame 30 can be locked to the conveyor 50. Preferably, two multi-position cylinders 621, 622 are arranged on the conveyor 50.

[0028] The Fig. Figure 6a shows the intermediate frame 44 with a guide roller arrangement 32, which is distributed in the corner areas of the intermediate frame 44. Fig. Figure 6b shows a detailed view of the guide roller arrangement 32 in one of the corner regions of the intermediate frame 44. Preferably, a horizontal bearing roller 48 and a vertical bearing roller 46 are rotatably mounted in each of the corner regions. The clamping frame 30 is held in the guide rails 84 in a horizontal direction by the horizontal bearing roller 48 and in the guide rails 84 in a vertical direction by the vertical bearing roller 46. Fig. Figure 6c shows a perspective view along one of the guide rails 84 and one side of a guide roller arrangement 32 on the intermediate frame 44 before it is inserted into the guide rail 84.

[0029] The Fig. Figure 7 shows a multi-position cylinder 62 in a single view, with three possible positions shown overlapping. The multi-position cylinder 62 can be pneumatically or hydraulically actuated. The multi-position cylinder 62 essentially comprises a piston-cylinder actuating unit 64, by means of which a locking piston 66 can be moved between preferably three positions in an axial direction of the locking piston 66. The piston-cylinder actuating unit 64 and the locking piston 66 are suitably received in a housing 68, by means of which the multi-position cylinder is expediently held on the conveying device 50.

[0030] The Fig. 8a, Fig. 8b and Fig. Figure 8c shows the multi-position cylinder 62 in conjunction with the clamping frame 30. As a counterpart to the locking piston 66, the clamping frame 30 has a bore 52 with a two-stepped inner diameter. The section with the smaller inner diameter is located inside the bore 52. Correspondingly, the locking piston 66 has a two-stepped outer diameter at one end, with a smaller outer diameter at the end transitioning into a larger outer diameter. In the position of the multi-position cylinder 62, Fig. 7a The locking piston 66 is inserted into the bore 52 to such an extent that the end region with the smaller outer diameter of the locking piston 66 fits into the smaller inner diameter of the bore 52. These two diameters are preferably matched to each other as a transition fit. The clamping frame 30 is held relative to the conveying device 50 by means of a multi-position cylinder 62 positioned accordingly, preferably with two multi-position cylinders 621 and 622 being provided, as described in connection with the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 explained. In this fixed position, the clamping frame transport between the magazine area 22 and the working area 24 preferably takes place. In the position of the multi-position cylinder 62 of the Fig. 9 The locking piston 66 is retracted from the bore 52 to such an extent that the end region with the smaller outer diameter of the locking piston 66 is seated within the larger inner diameter of the bore 52. In this position, there is radial play between the locking piston 66 and the bore 52, within which the clamping frame 30 can move relative to the conveying device 50, i.e., it has one degree of freedom. The clamping frame 30 is preferably transferred to the linear guide 80 in this floating position. In the position of the multi-position cylinder 62 of the Fig. 8c the locking piston 66 is completely retracted from the bore 52 so that it no longer protrudes into it. The multi-position cylinder 62 is placed in this open position when the clamping frame 30 needs to be separated from the conveyor 50, which is necessary in the working area at the end of the feed on the linear guide 80 and in the magazine area 22 for setting down the clamping frames 30.

[0031] The Fig. Figure 9 shows a position of the conveyor 50 with the clamping frames 50 held at the end of the clamping frame transport before transfer to the work area 24. Strictly speaking, this position is not a single position, but a position range. To detect a position within this position range, optical sensor means 70 are preferably provided. The sensor means 70 are preferably distributed on the conveyor 50 and on the linear guide 80. Thus, it can be provided that a laser transmitter 72 and a suitable reflector 74 are attached to the side of the conveyor 50 and to the linear guide. The reflector 74 is preferably circular with a defined diameter. Here, the area of ​​the reflector 74 corresponds to the position range described above.This position range in turn corresponds to the maximum initial opening of the entry guides 82, which taper towards the respective guide rail 82, as is the case with the . Fig. As described in section 3, this means that as long as the laser beam from the laser transmitter 72 strikes the surface of the reflector 74 and is reflected back to the laser transmitter 72, which then acts as a receiver, the conveyor 50 is in a position relative to the linear guide 80 from which the guide roller assembly 32 can be inserted into the guide rails 82 via the insertion guides 82. If the laser beam does not strike the reflector or no reflection of the laser beam is detected, a position correction can be made by moving the conveyor 50 again. Reference symbol list 10 processing stations 12 Conveyor section 22 Magazine area 24 work area 26 Transfer area 28 processing equipment 30 tension frames 32 Guide roller arrangement 34 Rack arrangement 36 posts 38 Crossbeam 40 Rack arrangement 42 tool frames 44 intermediate frames 46 Vertical storage roller 48 Horizontal storage roller 50 Conveyor 52 bore 60 staking device 62 multi-position cylinders 64 Piston-cylinder positioning unit 66 locking pistons 68 cases 70 sensor media 72 laser transmitters 74 Reflector 80 linear guide 82 entry guides 84 Guide rail 86 Profile section 88 interior surface

Claims

[1] Machining station (10), in particular framing station, for workpieces designed as vehicle body parts, comprising a plurality of clamping frames (301, 302) for clamping the workpieces, at least one magazine area (22) for holding the tension frames (301, 302), a work area (24) for machining the workpieces and at least one conveying device (50) for transporting the clamping frames between the magazine area (22) and the working area (24), wherein the at least one conveying device (50) has a positioning device (60) for storing at least one clamping frame (301, 302) and the positioning device (60) can be moved into a position in which the respective clamping frame (301, 302) is held firmly in place and into a position in which the clamping frame (301, 302) is suspended, and the working area (24) has a linear guide (80) for precisely positioning the clamping frames (301, 302) in the working area (24). [2] Processing station (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the linear guide (80) has opening entry guides (82) in an initial area (24) for position-tolerant transfer of the clamping frames (301, 302) from the conveyor (50). [3] Processing station (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the linear guide (80) comprises at least two guide rails (841, 842). [4] Processing station (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the locking device (60) has at least one multi-position cylinder (62) via which the floating position, the fixed position and an open position, in which the respective clamping frame (301, 302) is released relative to the conveying device (50), can be actuated. [5] Processing station (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by, that the clamping frames (301, 302) have a guide roller arrangement (32) which, when the clamping frames (301, 302) are received in the working area (24), enters into an effective connection with the linear guide (80). [6] Processing station (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the conveying device (50) is a non-track-bound, driverless transport vehicle. [7] Processing station (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that an optical guide track is provided for the navigation of at least one conveying device between the magazine area (22) and the working area (24). [8] Processing station (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that a clamping frame (30) comprises an intermediate frame (44) and a tool frame (42) held on the intermediate frame (44). [9] Processing station (10) according to claim 8, characterized by, that the locking device (60) is in operative connection with the intermediate frame (44) in the floating position and the fixed position of a clamping frame. [10] Method for transferring a clamping frame to a work area in a processing station according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which a clamping frame (30) is transported on the conveying device (50) in the fixed position of the setting device (60) and in order to receive the clamping frame (30) into the linear guide (80) of the work area (24) the setting device (60) is moved into the floating position. [11] Method according to claim 10, characterized by , that the locking device (60) is moved into the open position when it reaches the clamping frame (30) in an end position of the linear guide (80). [12] Method according to claim 11, characterized by Sensing the end position via a proximity switch. [13] Method according to claim 12, characterized by Sensing of a preliminary position via the proximity switch before reaching the final position.

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